The black dog.

[Hunter257]

Ironically, as you say, exercise and getting out and doing things has been proven to help many, so there may be some merit in that statement regardless - at least to a small percentage of sufferers.
Cheers TT

What helped me was buying a gun and going out shooting - go figure, but it got me off my arse, out and about and feeling the sunshine again

[bladeracer]

Ironically, as you say, exercise and getting out and doing things has been proven to help many, so there may be some merit in that statement regardless - at least to a small percentage of sufferers.
Cheers TT

What helped me was buying a gun and going out shooting - go figure, but it got me off my arse, out and about and feeling the sunshine again

I think a huge help for me was Rose pushing me to get back on the race track. Trying to drag me out of bed to do so was a heartbreaking failure for her many times though.

[Tank]

Bloke. In all sincerity and with some urgency....get some quality professional help.
I suffered with PTSD and through counselling gained the tools to deal with the associated depression and anxiety.
Sorry you’re having to go through this time.
Thanks for having the courage to reach out.
It does get better and you’ve taken the right steps here.
Good luck digger.

[mickb]

I think part of the problem having returned to suburban life after so long away, is that everyone is acting like dicks these days. I couldn't believe how smart ass workplaces have gotten. Very loose language between people, disguided as jokes and pisstakes, but words can hurt. Its like the smartass or rude brat d**khead has become the alpha-male. You see one kid running his mouth and he ruins the mood of the whole workplace -and he is untouchable. A lot of comments I see people making would earn you a quick smack in the mouth in the 80's.

I'm glad I am semi-retired to be honest and dont have to put up with it. Bloody amazed at what happened to Australia when I was gone. Can't speak your mind now, apparently emotions beat facts, fantasy genders have become science and everyone acting like highschool kids at work. Even the people they interview on the news sound like the dumbest person they could find in the street lol. What the hell happened to conservative articulate aussies?

No wonder folks are getting depressed and anxious, someone re-arranged society on you.

[Tank]

I think part of the problem having returned to suburban life after so long away, is that everyone is acting like dicks these days. I couldn't believe how smart ass workplaces have gotten. Very loose language between people, disguided as jokes and pisstakes, but words can hurt. Its like the smartass or rude d**khead has become the alpha-male. You see one guy running his mouth and he ruins the mood of the whole workplace -and he is untouchable. A lot of comments I see people making would earn you a quick smack in the mouth in the 80's.

I'm glad I am semi-retired to be honest and dont have to put up with it. Bloody amazed at what happened to Australia when I was gone. Can't speak your mind now, apparently emotions beat facts, fantasy genders have become science and everyone acting like highschool kids at work. Even the people they interview on the news sound like the dumbest person they could find in the street lol. What the hell happened to conservative articulate aussies?

No wonder folks are getting depressed and anxious, someone re-arranged society on you.

+1

[gunnnie]

It isn't something you can just take a panadol for!

I had a few years of feeling like I was staring down a spiral tunnel with a black abyss at the end. I'd been pushing myself with training to get to where I wanted to be professionally. It was burning me out emotionally, mentally & physically. Add in a really rough patch in my marriage & looking back at it now, I was just an automaton & detached from myself & family. I believed that self-obsession with that drive was the only answer. I ignored my family & friends, let alone my own responsibility as a human being in life.

It all came to a head while I was dealing with an Improvised Explosive Device in The Mirad Valley, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. For some reason that I still cannot explain, I thought that if I just do 'this' instead of what my training & experience dictated I had to do, all my problems would be solved. I'd be gone, my wife & son would be looked after, my failures as a husband & father would no longer be so painful. One simple thing on my part & the 5kg improvised charge sitting just 18" away from my face, would provide the solution I'd been agonising over subconsciously for almost 2yrs.

That was almost 9yrs ago. Looking back on it I still don't know what made me stop. But I clearly remember a moment of stillness, clarity of mind & an overwhelming feeling of peace.

f***, this topic has brought feelings, emotions & memories screaming back to the fore. I'm sitting here typing this, tears streaming down my cheeks, heart racing, but thankful. Thankful that another 'option' or better said, realisation, occurred lying there in the water & mud of an irrigation ditch in that ****** of a place. I'm thankful for life, for my wife, family & friends. I sought help when I got home, it helped & gave me coping strategies. But most importantly, another doorway to go to when all others seemed closed. A doorway to help!

We are human, we are fragile, we are not indestructible. We need to seek help whenever the 'black dog' comes calling.